196 
Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain on the 
C. c. sardus. Most of the breeding-places are in the sea- 
cliffs, where alternative sites close at hand are utilized year 
after year. Occasionally, however, a pair may be found 
breeding in an isolated clump of rocks at some distance 
from the sea. Whitehead found three nests with eggs, two 
clutches of 6 eggs, and one addled set of 4, all on rocks. 
Those which I examined in 1908 and 1909 were also on 
rocks and all contained five well-fledged young, which were 
still in the nest at the end of May. The eggs are apparently 
laid about the end of March or the first week of April, 
so that the nesting-season is about a month earlier than 
in S. Spain, though rather later than in the British Isles. 
Average size of 16 Corsican eggs, 46*55 x 32*78 mm.; 
max. 59 3 x 36 5, min. 44 x 30*5. 
2. Corvus cornix sardonius Kleinschmidt. Sardinian 
Hooded Crow. 
Corvus sardonius Kleinschmidt, Ornithol. Monatsberichte, 
xi. p. 92 (1903—Sardinia). 
Local name : Cornacchia. This form, originally described 
from Sardinia, is common to both Corsica and Sardinia 
(Hartert, Vog. pal. Fauna, i. p. 10). Its distinctive cha¬ 
racters are its slightly smaller size and a pale brownish 
tinge, which is apparent on the grey, both above and below. 
It is a common resident on the low ground and is most 
numerous along the east coast, but is rare or absent in the 
hills inland. In its breeding-habits it shews extreme 
caution, although bold enough at other times; and it is 
interesting to note how a pair of birds, which have been 
silent and skulking hitherto, will suddenly break out into 
discordant and noisy croaking when they become aware 
that their nest has been discovered. As noted by Wharton, 
a favourite breeding-place is in a tree on the border of a 
swamp. The eggs are usually 4, sometimes 5 in number, 
and are laid from April 12 (Wharton) to about May 10. 
Whitehead, however, took none before April 26. Average 
size of 28 Corsican eggs, 43*35 x 29*52 mm.; max. 48*5 x 30*7 
and 45*7 X 31*2, min. 40*9 x 28*2 and 41*4 x 27*8 mm. 
